In 1947 the New Yorker published a ten-page story about an average New York working man named Harry Dubin. What made Harry interesting was the fact that he was an average Joe, but an average Joe who was one of the first working-class people in his neighborhood that owned a television. Then in 1993 while doing research for another project, author and historian Jeff Kisseloff read the original 1947 New Yorker article and tracked Harry down to interview him. In the process Mr. Dubin shared these spectacular color images of himself back in 1947 doing various blue collar jobs throughout New York. While these photos are staged, the story is real. Read all about it here. [Found via Gothamist]
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All photographs via The Kisseloff Collection.
Residing in Atlanta, I can’t help but point out my true appreciation for the Coca Cola advertisement on the vending cart. Would love to see a Coca-cola focused post. There is so much material down in Atlanta I surmise you would enjoy!
I love how is wearing penny loafers while doing masonry. Classic
Wow – what job didn’t he have?
Go, Harry!
The bow tie on the service station attendant! Now that’s CLASSIC! I love it! Great find and great post!
that’s a real working man. makes me wish i was around back then. there was more honor and dignity in being a gas station attendant then now that’s for sure.
All the signage / props is amazing very inspiring….this needs to be recreated for a men’s presentation!
These photos are so great, but to be fair the the story is that he went up to manual laborers and asked if he could pose in their clothes (according to Kisseloff via the interview w/Dubin, they’d go into an alley and trade outfits. Gnarly). So he was only “doing” various blue collar jobs. Not that you say otherwise, but I think it bears clarification. The whole story — the Life article, the little interview/blurb 50 years later, Kisseloff’s commentary — is totally worth reading via your link.